Seems like everyone's talking about inflammation these days! More and more studies are coming out linking chronic inflammation to a vast majority of chronic diseases, even cancer.

But, is all inflammation bad?

Not at all! Some inflammation is absolutely necessary for our survival. It helps us overcome any acute insult or injury to the body. For example, if you cut your finger, cells are recruited to the wounded area, and through a very complex mechanism, the body heals itself quite efficiently. That's an example of inflammation working to heal you.

Similarly, if you contract a bacterial infection, the body quickly produces inflammatory chemicals known as cytokines, which help kill the foreign invaders. During this fight between the bugs and your immune system, you feel terrible, but only for a short time. Soon, you're up and on your merry way again with little long-term botheration from the incident.

It's only when this inflammation becomes chronic or long term—like a low-grade smoldering fire which does not die out—that it leads to major problems.

Normally, during a period of low-grade inflammation, the body tries to warn us that something is wrong. It does this by producing many nagging signs and symptoms, like:

Aching of joints and muscles

High blood pressure

Rising blood sugars

Headaches

Sleep issues

Allergies

Skin issues

Frequent abdominal pain and other gut issues

Mood swings

Difficulty with sleep

Low energy levels

If we do not heed these symptoms and allow the inflammation to persist unchecked, after years (yes, years!), the inflammation becomes evident in the form of a heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, or an autoimmune disease like multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis or rheumatoid arthritis, which can no longer be ignored by us.

Some signs of chronic inflammation are:

Chronic fatigue and low energy.

Mood issues including anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.

Memory problems, brain fog, or loss of focus.

Difficulty falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night, or unrestful sleep.

This person can help you eliminate the root cause of the chronic inflammation, rather than focusing on just suppressing symptoms.

2. Avoid all inflammatory foods.

This includes refined sugars, sugar substitutes, juices and sodas, trans-fats, dairy products, non-organic eggs and meats from grain fed animals. I also suggested you eliminate any foods to which you may be sensitive/ allergic, all GMO foods, and foods with a high glycemic index.

3. Eat real foods.

Incorporate large amounts of antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, small amounts of grass fed meats and wild small fish, healthy spices like turmeric, ginger, garlic, and herbs like cilantro, parsley, oregano and rosemary in your diet.